Monday, October 6, 2014

Tools

My wife's parents recently moved out of their house and into an assisted living facility. A move like that can be difficult, especially when it comes time to get the old house ready to sell. There are lots of memories stored in every room and attached to each piece of furniture.

One of the tasks I was given was to sort through all of my father-in-laws old tools. What an amazingly enjoyable task that was! My wife's father used to restore wood furniture - making old things new again. (This story is almost writing itself)

Old tools are very cool. Perhaps not in everyone's eyes, but as a former carpenter I have a special affinity for them. Each one of the old tools I touched yesterday contained a story. I was sure of it. As a Christian writer, I thought of some OTHER uses for the old tools - a story for you.

Each of tool was created for a specific purpose. The tool's "creator" had something on his mind when they were designed and formed into the finished product. Just like you and me, we were fashioned my OUR Creator to be used in this world for His purpose and for His glory.

Here's a picture of one of the tools I found. Do you know what it is? It's called a plumb bob. Masons use it to let them know if the walls they are building are straight and true. A plumb bob is a constant. It is something, against which, things are measured. And so it is with God's Word, His Holy Scriptures, The Bible.

These are some other tools from my father-in-law's basement. They are called files. Files are used to shape things, to make things smoother than they once were. God uses trials in our everyday lives to accomplish the same thing in us. Just like my wife's father, our heavenly father shapes and molds our character so we can become more like Him.

Have you ever thought of yourself as an instrument, designed for a specific purpose, to be used in God's hands, for HIS purpose? No?

If we are open to being used as tools in God's tool belt, we WILL be used. We were meant to be used.

Here's another example of a tool, designed for a specific purpose. In the hands of it's owner, this instrument delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines. God was glorified and His people were saved from the mighty warrior, Goliath.

"48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him." - 1 Samuel 17:48-50

We all have gifts and talents that can be used to bring God glory. Be open to the Holy Spirit's leading and be willing to answer God's call when you hear it, like David did. Then you will truly know what it feels like to be a tool in the hands of a master craftsman - The Lord, God Almighty.